Turkish officials have launched an urgent search and rescue mission after a cargo ship went missing following a collision in the Sea of Marmara. The incident occurred around 3:00 am on Wednesday, southwest of Istanbul, when the vessel, identified as the Tugberk Imamoglu, collided with a chemical tanker named the Alsu. Authorities confirmed that communication with the cargo ship and its 10-member crew was lost immediately following the impact.

The Istanbul governor’s office reported that while the chemical tanker involved in the crash sustained no apparent damage, the situation for the missing cargo vessel remains critical. Emergency teams have deployed multiple ships and a helicopter to scour the area in hopes of locating the crew. As of now, rescue efforts are continuing under high priority, with officials working to piece together the events surrounding the early morning collision.